The '''Russian True Orthodox Church''' is an autogenic jurisdiction which claims to have arisen from differences with the [[Church of Russia|Moscow Patriarchate]] that resulted from the Bolshevik revolution in Russia but was given a hierarchy through the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]. The group is not in communion with any of the historical and canonical Orthodox Christian Churches. Due to the similarities of naming conventions, they are commonly confused with the [[Russian True Orthodox Church]], an early splinter from the [[Russian Orthodox Church in Exile]]

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== History of the Russian True Orthodox Church ==

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== History ==

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===The Early Foundation of Orthodoxy in Russia===

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In the period from the 1970s-80s, many of the True Orthodox Church communities had lost their last bishops and much of their clergy. Many of these groups were forced to exist and celebrate services in the absence of a priest.

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According to tradition, St. Andrew, the first called Apostle, stopped at the hills of what would become the great city of Kiev while preaching the [[Gospel]]. It would, however, take nearly one thousand years before Christianity would begin to take hold of the region. In 954 Olga of Kiev|Princess Olga of Kiev was [[baptism|baptized]]. But it was her grandson, Vladimir I of Kiev|Prince Vladimir, whose baptism in 988 would forever establish Orthodoxy as the principal religion of [[Russia]].

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The Orthodox faith grew and flourished throughout the Russian Empire and served as a unifying force in the lives of the Russian people. Not only did the Church provide spiritual strength and nourishment for its people, but it became a center of educational enrichment as well. The Russian Orthodox Church had forever become an inseparable part of the life of the people and Russia itself.

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After the change in political conditions in the late 1980s, the True Orthodox Church began to emerge from the underground. Various churches solved the question of their future existence in different ways. Some of the communities joined the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]], which by that time had begun to open communities within Russia, many of which developed into existing Russian traditionalist jurisdicitions, such as the [[Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church]] or the [[Russian Orthodox Church in Exile]].

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The unprecedented growth and stability of this [[Church]] inevitably led to the establishment of a new patriarchate within orthodoxy, with [[Metropolitan]] Job of Moscow becoming the first [[Patriarch]] of [[Russia]] in 1589. Following the death of [[Patriarch]] Adrian in 1700, the [[Church]] remained without a Patriarch for more than two hundred years. At the insistence of Peter I, a collective administration, known as the Holy and Governing [[Synod]], was established in 1721. This form of governance lasted until 1917 at which time the All-Russian Council restored the patriarchal office and elected [[Metropolitan]] [[Tikhon of Moscow]] as Patriarch.

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In 1996 an initiative group of Russian orthodox clergy and laity approached Patriarch Dimitriy of the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]], asking him to assist them in the canonical restoration of a hierarchy for the True Orthodox Church. It was decided that the name for the restored church would be the "Russian True Orthodox Church". The reason they did not go under the other existing Russian jurisdictions is unclear.

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===Orthodoxy in Russia in the Early Twentieth Century===

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In June of 1996, with the [[blessing]] of Patriarch Dimitriy, [[Archbishop]] Roman and Bishop Methodiy (Kuriakov) of the UAOC ordained [[Hieromonk]] John a bishop of the Russian True Orthodox Church in order to restore [[Apostolic succession]]. In December of 1996 Bishops John and Methodiy consecrated [[Archimandrite]] Stefan a bishop for the new body.

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The joy of the election of Patriarch Tikhon would be short lived, as Russia entered a very difficult period in its history. The Bolsheviks, who had come into power in 1917, saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an enemy to be destroyed as resolutely as the tsarist institution. This period saw the repression of the church as well as the imprisonment of many of its [[bishop]]s, [[priest]]s, [[monasticism|monastics]] and [[laypeople]]. Patriarch Tikhon was himself imprisoned a little more than a year. Upon his release he found a Church embattled by division and an ever-increasing persecution by the government. He continued to be a source of unification among the people and fought vigorously to uphold the faith and traditions of the Church, but the strain of these years weighed heavily upon him. His death in 1925 dealt a severe blow to Russian Orthodoxy and the stability of the Church.

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===Orthodoxy in the Post-Tikhon era===

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These two bishops, In 2000 the jurisdiction officially changed the name to "Russian True Orthodox Church-Metropolia of Moscow" in order to distinguish it from other groups within Russia. The jurisdiction has been fraught with divisions usually due to modernists within their ranks and is most notable for revision of the term "godless authority" as a general admonition towards those who "hurt the poor".

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Following the death of Patriarch Tikhon unrest settled over the Russian Orthodox Church. The designated successors of Patriarch Tikhon were arrested by the civil authorities and Metropolitan [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius]] was named "locum tenens" of the [[Patriarchate]]. In 1927 Metropolitan Sergius, in a formal declaration to all members of the Church, called for loyalty toward the Soviet government. This event sparked division among the [[hierarchy]], [[clergy]] and [[laity]] and led to the formation of the True Orthodox Church in Russia. Those who opposed Metropolitan Sergius were not simply opposed to his political concessions, which they felt were too extreme, but were also at variance with him on a number of [[canonical]] and theological issues. His alliance with the authorities allowed him to turn over to the civil authorities all hierarchs and clergy who were at odds with him on political issues as well as purely church-related issues.

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While the True Orthodox Church in Russia was never a single organization, many of its followers were labeled [["Josephites"]], after Metropolitan Joseph of Leningrad, the leader of its largest branch.

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Today, the Church is led by Metropolitan Vyacheslav of Moscow and Kolomensk, together with Archbishop Mikhail of Bronitsk and Velensk, and Bishop Vladimir. In the United States this group is represented by Archbishop Alexy of Minneapolis and Chicago, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine. He and his clergy run several small missions in the upper Midwest. Bishop Haralampos of Dallas runs some missions and also has a small [[Western Rite]] monastic community (whom uses a variety of Western Rites, including a "liturgy of St James-Scottish rite" of Anglican provenance.)

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A considerable part of the Church in Russia stood in opposition to Metropolitan Sergius and took the stand of the True Orthodox Church. The opposition, however, remained primarily on a church-related basis. The overwhelming majority of the True Orthodox Church tried to observe the Soviet laws. This, however, was not enough. The authorities had taken their stand in the Church dispute and were prepared to use whatever means necessary to bring the bishops under the obedience of Metropolitan Sergius. This tragic resolve on the part of the Soviet government caused the numerous True Orthodox Church eparchies and communities to go underground for the length of the Soviet period.

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===The Emergence from the Underground and the Establishment of the Russian True Orthodox Church - Metropolia of Moscow===

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In the period from the 1970s-80s, many of the True Orthodox Church communities had lost their last bishops and much of their clergy. Many of these groups were forced to exist and celebrate services in the absence of a priest.

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After the change in political conditions in the late 1980s, the True Orthodox Church began to emerge from the underground. Various churches solved the question of their future existence in different ways. Some of the communities joined the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]], which by that time had begun to open communities within Russia. Others renewed their episcopacy and clergy through arrangements made with other jurisdictions. The [[Russian True Orthodox Church]] - Metropolia of Moscow chose the latter.

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In 1996 an initiative group of Russian orthodox clergy and laity approached Patriarch Dimitriy of the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]], asking him to assist them in the canonical restoration of a hierarchy for the True Orthodox Church. It was decided that the name for the restored church would be the Russian True Orthodox Church. In June of 1996, with the [[blessing]] of Patriarch Dimitriy, [[Archbishop]] Roman and Bishop Methodiy of the UAOC ordained [[Hieromonk]] John a bishop of the Russian True Orthodox Church in order to restore [[Apostolic succession]]. In December of 1996 Bishops John and Methodiy consecrated [[Archimandrite]] Stefan a bishop for the Russian True Orthodox Church.

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These two bishops, John and Stefan, would pass the Apostolic succession to the rest of the bishops of the Russian True Orthodox Church. In 2000 the Russian True Orthodox Church officially added "Metropolia of Moscow" to its name in order to distinguish it from other groups within Russia.

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Today, the Church is led by Metropolitan Vyacheslav of Moscow and Kolomensk together with Archbishop Mikhail of Bronitsk and Velensk, Archbishop Alexy of Minneapolis and Chicago, Bishop Haralampos (Western Rite) and Bishop Vladimir. The Church strives to live the [[Gospel]] of Our Lord, [[God]] and Savior [[Jesus Christ]] through adherence to the Holy Scriptures, [[Holy Tradition]], the [[Canons]] of the [[Ecumenical Councils]], and regulations of the Church Councils of the [[Orthodox Church]]. Its desire is to serve the needs of its faithful through spiritual nourishment and with compassion and understanding.

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History

In the period from the 1970s-80s, many of the True Orthodox Church communities had lost their last bishops and much of their clergy. Many of these groups were forced to exist and celebrate services in the absence of a priest.

In 1996 an initiative group of Russian orthodox clergy and laity approached Patriarch Dimitriy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, asking him to assist them in the canonical restoration of a hierarchy for the True Orthodox Church. It was decided that the name for the restored church would be the "Russian True Orthodox Church". The reason they did not go under the other existing Russian jurisdictions is unclear.

In June of 1996, with the blessing of Patriarch Dimitriy, Archbishop Roman and Bishop Methodiy (Kuriakov) of the UAOC ordained Hieromonk John a bishop of the Russian True Orthodox Church in order to restore Apostolic succession. In December of 1996 Bishops John and Methodiy consecrated Archimandrite Stefan a bishop for the new body.

These two bishops, In 2000 the jurisdiction officially changed the name to "Russian True Orthodox Church-Metropolia of Moscow" in order to distinguish it from other groups within Russia. The jurisdiction has been fraught with divisions usually due to modernists within their ranks and is most notable for revision of the term "godless authority" as a general admonition towards those who "hurt the poor".

Today, the Church is led by Metropolitan Vyacheslav of Moscow and Kolomensk, together with Archbishop Mikhail of Bronitsk and Velensk, and Bishop Vladimir. In the United States this group is represented by Archbishop Alexy of Minneapolis and Chicago, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine. He and his clergy run several small missions in the upper Midwest. Bishop Haralampos of Dallas runs some missions and also has a small Western Rite monastic community (whom uses a variety of Western Rites, including a "liturgy of St James-Scottish rite" of Anglican provenance.)